Returning to America Part 1: Vitauts Grinvalds’ Memorial Service

Returning to America Part 1: Vitauts Grinvalds’ Memorial Service

I have been trying to write something about my trip back to the states after 4 years in Latvia. Rita and I did return for a short visit 3 years ago, but this was my first time back in what felt like a long, long time. I wasn’t sure what to write or how to say it, but this is how I started.

The Memorial Service

The reason for my trip was a bit sad—my father’s funeral service which could not be held in March 2020 when he died, so we have been waiting for a long time. The Lincoln Latvian church offered to host it, and we found a time when Archbishop Lauma Zusevics could come to perform the service (as Vitauts had requested), so this date worked out.

My sister Susan helped arrange it so that people from Yutan could come down too, so we had a very nice mix of Latvians and Yutanians honoring their pastor who served both congregations. There was also a person from Sterling there who gave me her kindest regards, and had some beautiful memories of my father.

For me, the most powerful part of the memorial was when Pastor Zusevics gave a moving sermon that was a tribute to Vitauts’ service as a pastor, and how he went through life without fear guided by fate to perform his duties. As I listened, I recollected how my dad was a relentless worker always meeting with people and doing what needed to be done. There was one day when I went by the church, and he was outside watering the new pine trees out front. I don’t know why this memory has stayed with me, but there was something about seeing him in his pastor shirt and collar doing yardwork that seemed incongruous and important. The bottom line for me was that (unlike me) dad never complained about his work. I cannot say I ever heard him gripe about having to get up early for sunrise service or doing all the extra services during Lent or Advent. He just showed up and did what he needed to do.

That was kind of his lot in life as he moved through the world from Latvia, to Germany, to California, to Memphis, to Fremont, to Sterling, to Gothenburg, to Yutan, to Lincoln, to Omaha and back to Latvia again. The world swung him around and tossed him about, but he just carried on with strength, humor, and grace. He had a dignity in his manner that I can never hope to achieve, but people recognized it in him wherever he went. A story I wanted to tell but I forgot when I was giving a eulogy was when I went to the Saunders County Courthouse in Wahoo and he was doing some paperwork and giving the lady behind the counter some one liners like he did, making his little jokes. He sat down to write, and I stood by the counter and the lady leaned in and told me, “Your father is so adorable.” She might have said dashing, or handsome, or any number of adjectives to describe a man at the time.

When he finally moved into the retirement home in Rauna, Latvia, he made an immediate impression on the people he encountered. One woman claimed that he was her boyfriend, and staff members commented on his incredible grammar and language skills. They didn’t normally hear elderly men talk the way that Vitauts talked.

As Chris, Al, and I were remembering Vitauts, we were trying to recall all of his famous catchphrases. He had so many one-liners that we adored such as “I mean, jā…” and such. No matter what the situation was, he usually could say something that would make everyone laugh or at least smile.

With all that said, the memorial service was beautiful, and the luncheon that the Latvians put on was memorable. So many people commented that we had roast duck. It was the highlight of the day. Whoever thought to serve duck, that was just genius.

I feel bad that I did not check the audio on the video before presenting it, but this did give us the most delightful moment of the reception for me. The Latvians in the audience sang along with Vitauts as he sang in the video, and that moment was so moving I can hardly express the beauty of it. Here are people who have been removed from their homeland for 70 years, and yet they still sing the songs and know the words. This, for me, is so very, very Latvian.

In the spirit of this, I have uploaded the Vitauts Grinvalds Memorial Video, so you can see it on your own screens. It is a large video, so it may take some time to stream, but it worked fine when I tested it:

I hope it works for you!

I also want to share the videos of my cousin Karlene Grinberg singing her beautiful songs. I wish I had taken a better quality version, but at least this gives you some feel for her energy, passion and voice. What an incredible gift to give back to the world.

Karlene Performing “Nearer My God to Thee” in Latvian

Latvians singing along with Karlene

Karlene singing the rest in Latvian then starting again in English (along with sniffles)

And some random photos from the event

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

One Reply to “Returning to America Part 1: Vitauts Grinvalds’ Memorial Service”

  1. Wow that was amazing indeed, your dad seemed to be an amazing man, the world has indeed lost such incredible human.

    The memorial was amazing and the songs as well, it must have been too emotional.

You must have something to say...